It's that time of year again! Yes, it's time for readers like you to weigh in on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJ list, the annual user-based poll that has historically elected underdogs and long-shot candidates like Armin Van Buuren, Armin Van Buuren, Armin Van Buuren… and David Guetta.Set your spam filters to stun because mega DJs like Afrojack, Avicii, and Mr. Van Buuren himself are already mobilizing their superfan armies on Twitter and Facebook in attempts to bump themselves up a notch on the list. It's a lot like your elections for class representative—you may have a snazzy speech and a flawless budget proposal for the prom steering committee, but the votes are going to the cool kids and that's just how it is. Every year we see the same handful of people moving up and down the list as usual, and every year we find ourselves asking the same question—what about all the hard-working DJs who fall under the radar? Well, THUMP has you covered. Without any further delay we present… the THUMP 2013 Top 10 DJ Underdogs!
#10. DJ Barry
The whole DJ president thing is a little "been there done that," but we have to admit that Barry has really been killing it in 2013. His inauguration afterparty was so exclusive we heard Vice President Joe Biden wasn't even allowed in. And we're sure you hit up at least one stop on his sold out "4 More Years Tour." If you've caught any of his recent sets you've heard his deep and seasoned selection of acid techno, and we've heard his next release "No Love for North Korea" is going to be a real bomb. Barry just squeaked by on our top ten but if he keeps it up we have no doubt he'll creep his way up our list. "It was truly an honor when DJ Barry invited me to play B2B with him at the annual G6 Summit," says minimal techno demi-god who shall not be named. "He was a little protective of the decks but still mixed with the flawless prowess that could only come from a world leader."
#9. DJ E=MC²
We know this guy is kinda jocking Einstein's swag but with a 2013 as big as his, how could he not have made our list? MC² is known to be a vinyl purist and his residency at the Ibiza Hills retirement home has been one of the most talked about on the island over the past year. Almost every DJ this summer has been dropping his mid-set bomb "Don't Touch My Dentures." Watch out Carl Cox….this guy is going for the gold. Trance o.g. Sven Vath invited MC² to headline his Cocoon party in Ibiza last summer. He says he was "blown away at his abilities. He left to use the bathroom a number of times during the set, but regardless it was clear that he is a force to be reckoned with."
#6. DJ Pampers
When a DJ is having a better year then most who are 20 times his age you knows he's going to make our top ten. Pampers has been straight killing it in 2013 and he's only been walking and speaking for about a year and a half. Impressive stuff right here. His nimble little hands allow for lightning-fast transitions on the decks and we're even hearing rumors that he's opening his own (milk-only) club The Crib below the infant section of Bed Bath & Beyond in Topeka, Kansas. Who says a world famous DJ needs to be potty-trained? Certainly not Avicii. Veteran DJ Fatboy Slim says, "I'm probably one of the older DJs on the scene today, so it was a special experience for me to play the terrace at Space with a DJ that is 47 years younger than myself. It's obvious that in a few years time Pampers will be at the top of the game."
#5. Usain Bolt
When it comes to our top ten we feel that we need to award DJs with talents that lie outside the booth. Multi-Olympic gold medalist track star Usain Bolt certainly fits the bill. I got the chance to see Bolt spin a few months ago; a highlight of his set was when he ran a full two miles from the DJ booth back to his hotel, changed his outfit, and returned to the booth in time for the bass drop. Apparently this is a mid-set staple for Bolt and it really gets the crowd going. Keep it up Usain in the Membrane and you might end up sprinting your way into the top three of next year's list.
#4. DJ Prince C
It looks like DJ Barry has some competition, because DJ Prince C has indeed made our list. Some of you might remember the infamous Prince C versus Margaret "Money" Thatcher B2B set during the BMC (Buckingham Music Conference for all you noobs) in '88. Since then Charlie's DJ career hasn't slowed down one bit and he's one of the only cats that can hold down a killer set in a pinstripe suit. His 2013 single "I Just Wanna Be King" was released to a great response in the UK and we have no doubt that the next year will be a huge one for the Prince. Ministry of Sound's management emailed us saying, "We've had Prince C playing his monthly IAmPrince residency for years. Always the hardest ticket to get in town."
#3. DJ Zebra
This was a hard one but we had to give the coveted number three spot to DJ Zebra. Zebra had a big year, most notably changing his name and image from DJ Leopard to DJ Zebra in addition to pretty much taking over the northwest Connecticut wedding scene. He's been known to remix tracks on the fly and if you're lucky he'll play you his extended bootleg of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Ukelele Dub)." With an unparalleled drive for success and some sweet flowing golden locks, we know Zebra can secure a number two (or even one) spot next year. Gary Richards, the founder of international event series HARD, tell us, "Zebra is known as one of the hardest-to-book acts around. I've been trying to get him at my events for years and it has been no easy task. I'm not surprised such an in-demand DJ is so high on the list."
#2. DJ Katnip
It seems like every time you turn around there's a new feline trying his paw at the art of disk jockying, but Katnip is really taking it to another level. His Furball EP was number one on the Beatport Animal charts for almost six months and it's been rumored that he's collaborating with members of Dogblood next month. Keep it up 'Nip—we're expecting big things and maybe even a number spot for you next year.
#1. DJ Legolas
There's a lot of competition for the coveted number one spot on our DJ Top 10 list but after much deliberation we finally came to a decision. You might remember hearing Legolas' name in the news a year back; he was almost destroyed when a druken partygoer stepped on him after his set at Sankey's in Ibiza . Legolas needed emergency surgery to replace his hand, a procedure that doctors swore would end his vinyl-spinning career, but they were indeed wrong and the next year proved to be the most fruitful in Legolas' career. 2013 saw the relese of mammoth tracks like "ConnectME" and "Lego my Eggo," in addition to some high profile collaborations with artists like DJ Katnip and Steve Aoki. We love Legolas' energy during his sets and he is proof that even the smallest DJ can indeed change the world. Congratulations Legolas!Look out for David in the front row of the next DJ Pampers gig. - @DLGarber
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The whole DJ president thing is a little "been there done that," but we have to admit that Barry has really been killing it in 2013. His inauguration afterparty was so exclusive we heard Vice President Joe Biden wasn't even allowed in. And we're sure you hit up at least one stop on his sold out "4 More Years Tour." If you've caught any of his recent sets you've heard his deep and seasoned selection of acid techno, and we've heard his next release "No Love for North Korea" is going to be a real bomb. Barry just squeaked by on our top ten but if he keeps it up we have no doubt he'll creep his way up our list. "It was truly an honor when DJ Barry invited me to play B2B with him at the annual G6 Summit," says minimal techno demi-god who shall not be named. "He was a little protective of the decks but still mixed with the flawless prowess that could only come from a world leader."
We know this guy is kinda jocking Einstein's swag but with a 2013 as big as his, how could he not have made our list? MC² is known to be a vinyl purist and his residency at the Ibiza Hills retirement home has been one of the most talked about on the island over the past year. Almost every DJ this summer has been dropping his mid-set bomb "Don't Touch My Dentures." Watch out Carl Cox….this guy is going for the gold. Trance o.g. Sven Vath invited MC² to headline his Cocoon party in Ibiza last summer. He says he was "blown away at his abilities. He left to use the bathroom a number of times during the set, but regardless it was clear that he is a force to be reckoned with."
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When a DJ is having a better year then most who are 20 times his age you knows he's going to make our top ten. Pampers has been straight killing it in 2013 and he's only been walking and speaking for about a year and a half. Impressive stuff right here. His nimble little hands allow for lightning-fast transitions on the decks and we're even hearing rumors that he's opening his own (milk-only) club The Crib below the infant section of Bed Bath & Beyond in Topeka, Kansas. Who says a world famous DJ needs to be potty-trained? Certainly not Avicii. Veteran DJ Fatboy Slim says, "I'm probably one of the older DJs on the scene today, so it was a special experience for me to play the terrace at Space with a DJ that is 47 years younger than myself. It's obvious that in a few years time Pampers will be at the top of the game."
When it comes to our top ten we feel that we need to award DJs with talents that lie outside the booth. Multi-Olympic gold medalist track star Usain Bolt certainly fits the bill. I got the chance to see Bolt spin a few months ago; a highlight of his set was when he ran a full two miles from the DJ booth back to his hotel, changed his outfit, and returned to the booth in time for the bass drop. Apparently this is a mid-set staple for Bolt and it really gets the crowd going. Keep it up Usain in the Membrane and you might end up sprinting your way into the top three of next year's list.
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It looks like DJ Barry has some competition, because DJ Prince C has indeed made our list. Some of you might remember the infamous Prince C versus Margaret "Money" Thatcher B2B set during the BMC (Buckingham Music Conference for all you noobs) in '88. Since then Charlie's DJ career hasn't slowed down one bit and he's one of the only cats that can hold down a killer set in a pinstripe suit. His 2013 single "I Just Wanna Be King" was released to a great response in the UK and we have no doubt that the next year will be a huge one for the Prince. Ministry of Sound's management emailed us saying, "We've had Prince C playing his monthly IAmPrince residency for years. Always the hardest ticket to get in town."
This was a hard one but we had to give the coveted number three spot to DJ Zebra. Zebra had a big year, most notably changing his name and image from DJ Leopard to DJ Zebra in addition to pretty much taking over the northwest Connecticut wedding scene. He's been known to remix tracks on the fly and if you're lucky he'll play you his extended bootleg of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Ukelele Dub)." With an unparalleled drive for success and some sweet flowing golden locks, we know Zebra can secure a number two (or even one) spot next year. Gary Richards, the founder of international event series HARD, tell us, "Zebra is known as one of the hardest-to-book acts around. I've been trying to get him at my events for years and it has been no easy task. I'm not surprised such an in-demand DJ is so high on the list."
Advertisement
It seems like every time you turn around there's a new feline trying his paw at the art of disk jockying, but Katnip is really taking it to another level. His Furball EP was number one on the Beatport Animal charts for almost six months and it's been rumored that he's collaborating with members of Dogblood next month. Keep it up 'Nip—we're expecting big things and maybe even a number spot for you next year.
There's a lot of competition for the coveted number one spot on our DJ Top 10 list but after much deliberation we finally came to a decision. You might remember hearing Legolas' name in the news a year back; he was almost destroyed when a druken partygoer stepped on him after his set at Sankey's in Ibiza . Legolas needed emergency surgery to replace his hand, a procedure that doctors swore would end his vinyl-spinning career, but they were indeed wrong and the next year proved to be the most fruitful in Legolas' career. 2013 saw the relese of mammoth tracks like "ConnectME" and "Lego my Eggo," in addition to some high profile collaborations with artists like DJ Katnip and Steve Aoki. We love Legolas' energy during his sets and he is proof that even the smallest DJ can indeed change the world. Congratulations Legolas!Look out for David in the front row of the next DJ Pampers gig. - @DLGarber